Detachable connection for wrench sockets and the like



Dec. 31, 1929. w. s. BELLOWS 1,741,959

DETACHABLE CONNECTION FOR WRENCH SOCKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 26. 1925 WWII/V705 W/fFE/V SBHZOWS IVTTF/VEVS Patented Dec. 31, 1929 1.; rar s Pitt WARREN S BELLOWS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY Application filed August 26, 1925. Serial No. 52,560.

This invention relates to an improvement in socket wrenches and other detachable connections.

It is an object of the invention to provide a socket wrench having detachable sockets of various sizes, and to provide means whereby the sockets may be securely locked to the shank of the wrench when in use, or whereby other detachable shaft sections may be locked together.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a socket wrench of the type described, in which the connection between the wrench socket and the shank will be reinforced so as to prevent separation of the connecting members due to service strains or other causes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable connection between wrench sockets and the shanks therefor, in which the engaging portions of the connection will be enclosed in and protected by a substantially smooth surrounding collar which is an integral part of the connection.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as a description thereof proceeds.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of embodiment of the in- 0 vention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in sec-- tion, showing the connection between the shank and socket.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the lower end of the shank, showing the parts in a different position from that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the socket member, detached from the shank.

Fig. l is a sectional view of the connection between the shank and socket member, taken on the line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the collar in socket locking position.

Fig. 6 is a bottom sectional view of the lower end of the wrench shank.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the wrench socket, taken approximately at right angles to the view of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, the wrench comprises a shank portion 1, which may be provided at the upper end thereof with a means for receiving a turning member 2 which may comprise a detachable rod passing through a hole 3 in the upper end of the shank member, and held against removal therefrom by spring-pressed ball 4.

The lower end of the shank is preferably enlarged as at 5, and is provided with a slot (3 through the center thereof, separating the lower end ot the shank into two segmentshaped projections or prong members 7. The outer circumference of the prongs 7 is provided with an annular groove 8 and the lower end 5 of the shank is surrounded by a coilar 9 which extends substantially to the end of the projections 7 and which provides a means for holding these projections against any tendency to spread when the shank is used for turning the wrench socket.

The collar 9 is provided with an interior groove 10 which receives a pair of springpressed balls 11, mounted in the portion 5 of the shank, and is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite holes 10, adapted to receive the balls 11 to removably hold the collar in position to lock the wrench socket to the shank. The collar 9 is also provided on the interior thereof with a pair of lugs 12 which are of the same width and depth as the groove 8 and project into this groove.

The wrench socket 13 is provided with a nut engaging hole or opening ll, which may be of various sizes in different sockets, and is provided with a flat top portion 15 from which a tongue or slab 16 projects upward at approximately the center thereof and ex tends substantially from s'de to side of the socket 13.

The tongue 16 is adapted to lit snugly into the slot 6 in the lower end of the wrench shank 1. and is provided with grooves 17 which register with the groove 8 in the prongs 7 when the shank and wrench socket are brought together in operative posltion.

The parts of the wrench are assembled by first providing the shank 1 with a slot 6, groove 8 and the spring-pressed balls 11 and forming the collar 9 with the lugs 12 project ing from the inner walls thereof, the lugs 12 being of slightly less length than the width of the slot (5. The balls 11 are then pushed into the wall of the shank 1 and the collar 9 slipped upon the same with the lugs 12 sliding through the slot 6 until the balls 11 are projected into the slot 10 of the collar, in which 110' ion the lugs 12 are in registry with the slot 8 in the prongs 7 and the collar can be rotated on the shank to turn the lugs 12 into the slot 8 in the prongs 7. lVhen the lugs 12 are moved out of the slot 6 the tongue 16 of the wrench socket may be pushed into the slot 6 until the ends of the prongs 7 contact with the top 15 ot the wrench socket, in which position the slots 17 will register with the slot 8 and the collar 9 may then be turned to move the lugs 12 into position where they extend partly into the si t 8 in the prongs 7 and partly into the slots 17 in the tongue 16 to thereby lock the socket removal from the shank.

The holes 10 in the collar are preferably located so that the balls 11 will be projected thereinto when the lugs 12 occupy a position approximately as indicated in F in this way the lug 12 locks the socket in the shank and also looks the collar upon the shank so that neither the collar, shank nor socket is permitted longitudinal movement relative to the other.

It will be noted that the steps of connecting the shank to the socket member are extremely simple and the connection is quite efiective. No longitudinal movement of the collar on the shank is necessary for this connection, it being only necessary to insert the tongue 16 of the socket into the slot 6 of the shank and rotate the collar until the balls 11 spring into the holes 10 to releasably hold the collar from further rotation. It is obvious that if the balls 11 prevent rotation, the socket is positively secured to the shank and sleeve by the lugs 12 and the lugs 12 are prevented from loosening. The balls therefore act as a supplementary locking means, supplementing the lugs 12.

The tongue and slot connection between the socket member and the shank is of unusual strength and the prongs 7 have slight tendenc to spread when the wrench is used for turning a recalcitrant bolt or nut.

The integral collar 9 surrounding the prongs 7 and the tongue 16 etlectively prevents any tendency to spread and the detachable connection formed by this manner is much stronger than the usual form of detachable connection of a wrench socket and shank, and also easy to operate for connect-- ing or disconnecting a socket.

The wrench also presents a neat appearance and a smooth exterior, so that very slight danger of injury to the hands or clothing exists in the use of this type of connection on power driven machines.

I have described a preferred form of embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood, however, that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims and that the connection shown is not confined solely to use with socket wrenches.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination or a shank having a smooth surfaced cylindrical end provided with an open longitudinal slot and a transverse groove con'imunicating with said slot, a wrench socket, a tongue projecting from said socket adapted to fit snugly in said slot and provided with notches adapted to register with said groove, a sleeve adagted to lit over said cylindrical end provided with interior lugs adapted to pass thru said slot when the sleeve is assembled on said shank, and to fit snugly in said groove and said notches, thereby securing the shank, wrench socket and sleeve in assembled relation.

2. In a detachable wrench socket connection, in combination, a shank having an integral cylindrical en-d, provideo with an open longitudinal slot and an exterior transverse groove communicating with said slot, a wrench socket having an upwardly extending tongue adapted to lit snugly in said slot and provided with notches adapted to register with said groove, a sleeve adapted to fit over the cylindrical end of said shank provided with lugs adapted in assembly to pass through said slot and to be turned into said grooves to permit the insertion in said slot of the wrench socket tongue, said sleeve being rotatable to an effective position in which said lugs simultaneou ly engage the grooves in the shank and the slots in the tongue thereby iolding shank, sleeve and socket in assembled relation, and means for yieldably retaining said sleeve in such eiiiective position.

In a detachable wrench socket connec tion, the combination of a shank and a wrench socket, there being a detachable tongue and slot connection between said shank and wrench socket, a collar rotatably mounted on said shank and surrounding said tongue and slot when connected, there being registering grooves in said tongue and s iank, and lugs on said collar adapted to [it in said grooves and to be rotated to simultaneously engage said tongue and shank, securin g said shank, tongue and collar in assembled relation,

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my signature to this specification.

WVARREN S. BELLOVJS. 

